{"id":12406,"date":"2026-03-23T12:30:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T12:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12406"},"modified":"2026-03-23T12:30:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T12:30:24","slug":"pm-shehbaz-sharif-bans-high-octane-fuel-for-government-vehicles-in-austerity-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12406","title":{"rendered":"PM Shehbaz Sharif Bans High-Octane Fuel for Government Vehicles in Austerity Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"model-response-message-contentr_10cbc1319d94b001\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" dir=\"ltr\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-busy=\"false\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">ISLAMABAD: (HRNW)\u00a0<\/b>In a significant move to curb public expenditure, Prime Minister <b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"65\">Shehbaz Sharif<\/b> has imposed an immediate ban on the use of high-octane fuel in all government-owned vehicles. This decision follows the recent increase in petroleum levy on high-octane fuel and is part of a broader national austerity strategy.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\">According to an official statement issued on Monday, March 23, 2026, the ban applies to all federal departments, authorities, and subordinate institutions. The Prime Minister emphasized that national resources must be used with the utmost transparency and responsibility.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Key Directives of the New Policy:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"4\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Zero Tolerance for Public Expense:<\/b> The use of high-octane fuel at the government&#8217;s expense is strictly prohibited.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Personal Cost Provision:<\/b> If the use of high-octane is deemed essential for a specific vehicle, the concerned officer must bear the additional cost from their <b data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"158\">personal pocket<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Strict Monitoring:<\/b> Relevant authorities have been instructed to establish an effective monitoring system. Any violation of this directive will result in strict legal action against the responsible officers without exception.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Context of Austerity Measures:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5\">This measure builds upon previous decisions to stabilize the economy, including a <b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"113\">50% cut<\/b> in fuel quotas for government vehicles and the <b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"168\">grounding of 60%<\/b> of the official fleet. The savings generated from these cuts are intended to provide direct relief to the public and subsidize essential commodities.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\">Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that adhering to an austerity policy and reducing unnecessary expenditures is the need of the hour. &#8220;This will reduce government overheads and ensure that the taxpayers&#8217; money is utilized for the welfare of the people,&#8221; the Prime Minister stated.<\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"7\" \/>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\"><em>Promoting fiscal responsibility and transparency in governance is a core pillar of our mission at Human Rights News Worldwide. To support our work in tracking public expenditure and government accountability, please consider contributing at<\/em> <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=http:\/\/hrnww.com\/support-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjinPyy-rWTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQjAM\">hrnww.com\/support-us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12406\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12406\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ISLAMABAD: (HRNW)\u00a0In a significant move to curb public expenditure, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has imposed an immediate ban on the use of high-octane fuel in all government-owned vehicles. This decision follows the recent increase in petroleum levy on high-octane fuel and is part of a broader national austerity strategy. According to an official statement issued&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12406\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12406\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 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